Chatwootchatwoot/chatwootalivereplaces both
- GitHub
- ★ 29.2k · last commit today
- License
MIT- Setup time
- 30min docker-compose (Rails + Postgres + Redis + Sidekiq)
- Monthly cost
- $10/mo VPS for a small team; Postgres + Redis are the core ops surface.
Help Scout vs Intercom
Self-host either: open-source alternatives compared. · Category: team chat & community
Both Help Scout and Intercom are in the team chat & community category. Chatwoot self-hosts as a replacement for both — listed below alongside the picks unique to each.
| Help Scout | Intercom | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Customer support helpdesk / shared inbox | In-app messenger + customer support |
| SaaS pricing anchor | Standard $20/user/mo; Plus $40/user/mo; Pro $65/user/mo (annual) | $39+/seat/mo with usage-based AI fees |
| Self-host options listed | 3 | 2 |
Replaces both — 1 shared open-source pick
These open-source projects appear on both /helpscout/ and /intercom/ — picking one solves the migration off either SaaS.
Picks unique to each
Help Scout only
In a terminal? npx os-alt helpscout or npx os-alt intercom prints either side —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which open-source self-host alternatives replace both Help Scout and Intercom?
1 open-source project appears on both /helpscout/ and /intercom/: Chatwoot.
How many self-host alternatives are listed for Help Scout and Intercom?
3 for Help Scout, 2 for Intercom.
Are all the self-host alternatives free?
Yes — every listed option is open source. Your cost is the VPS or hardware that runs it.